News about Felix Jones

CHRIS FOY: England will face a tonne of problems in Lyon on Saturday, as a result of a potent mixture of genetics, ethnicity, overseas recruitment, Gallic rugby culture, and legislative anomalies, France will be armed with a massive pack. In a more literal sense, it will be called 'Le Crunch.' In the last game of this year's Six Nations, the visitors face the daunting prospect of a ferociously physical assault. They will face a handful of forwards who are among the best in the world game. In a starting eight with a total weight of 153 stone, France pounded the gallant Welsh into submission last Saturday by using the brute firepower at their disposal up front.

CHRIS FOY: England seems to have crossed the road as they brace for a showdown with Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. They have reached a difficult junction, in fact, all the lights are off, and they don't have a map. When Steve Borthwick took over the national team in December 2022, the buzz word was 'clarity,' and that was achieved with a narrow game-plan at the new World Cup.

CHRIS FOY: The investigation and repair work will be comprehensive, no doubt, but after this tragedy at Murrayfield, it is impossible to imagine how England will find quick fixes before Ireland visits Twickenham with another Slam in their sights. Well, this latest loss to Scotland has ended their Six Nations title hopes, ironically. They are stumbling toward a potential campaign win of two wins from five games, which is disappointing. Explicity once more. That is perhaps an inaccurate prediction, but the Irish people will believe that England will be on the field for the taking on March 9, even if they don't have 15 guys on the field this week - and France will be marginal favorites in Lyon a week later, despite their own unconvincing results in this tournament.

England has lost four times in a row since 1896 after losing Edinburgh. To me, this is a big statistic and one that must make English rugby sit up and take note of the country's decline from grace. England should not be losing to anyone four years in a row. That's not to say that Scotland is not to be taken away from Scotland. England is now abundantly clear from recent reports between the two teams' findings that England is a long way behind Scotland.

SIMON AT MURRAYFIELD: Steve Borthwick stepped out of the safety of his coaching box and gazed forward with arms folded in Edinburgh's final minute, in close proximity to the audience. Every Scottish fan had a chance to goad him one by one. After watching his team suffer a slow torture in a bed of thistles, they erupted sarcastically, cheering and thanks for arriving. England put on a show that lacked intelligence and a sense of urgency. After an error, aimless kick after a goalless kick, there was a mistake. This is the first time England has lost four straight Calcutta Cup games since 1896, and the ardent Scottish supporters are already yelling for their opponents to be booted out of the Six Nations. Tongue in cheek, of course, because they will sorely miss their annual triumph over the Auld Enemy.

CHRIS FOY: How about fine margins? England has won two games, totaling five points, to set up a potential Six Nations championship shot. Wales has lost by two points out of three, and is in last place in the depths. With all the pre-match talk about transforming Twickenham, there was heightened tension on the air on Saturday as the home side recovered from a 14-5 deficit to snatch the spoils. However, by doing so, they have already matched their win count in three of the last three Championship campaigns, so there is a great opportunity to ensure that this year will be a success.

CHRIS FOY: As the hosts attempt to resurrect their Twickenham citadel and their rivals fight for a dozen years of Six Nations pain, England and Wales beckons. Despite a thrilling, logic-defying comeback, rugby's top players will revive hostilities this afternoon in the midst of an English mission to recover lost home advantage. Both hope and enthusiasm are on the line, and new-era optimism is shaky. Something has to give. England has won three, drawn one, and lost six in the last ten Tests at Twickenham, including a surprise loss to Fiji in late August last year. Five months ago, France was being put to the sword by France, who romped to a historic 53-10 triumph.

The Six Nations rookies in Wales have been told they should arrive in Twickenham with a no-fear attitude, but they also warned that there will not be any repeats of their first-half performance against Scotland. After beginning their 2024 Championship with a dazzling but ultimately losing fashion, Warren Gatland's team heads up the M4 for a meeting with their oldest and bitterest rivals England on Saturday. Wales scored 26 points in a row last weekend at Principality Stadium, bringing an inch closer to what would have been a landmark Six Nations comeback. Before waking up, they had already conceded 27 points, including 20 in the first half, and the problem was not that complicated.

CHIRS FOY: England started their 2024 Six Nations campaign with a win, putting an end to the team's trail of 10-0 in the first half after four years of defeats. Monty Ioane's last-play attempt gave Italy a well-deserved losing bonus point. But the tourists had been aiming for a decisive strike at the other end just moments before, and the margin might have been 17 points rather than three. Borthwick will lead a rapid review process at Surrey's national squad's Surrey headquarters before turning his attention to the showdown with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. After a game which saw five English newcomers make victorious debuts, there was plenty for the head coach and his staff to ponder; reasons for optimism and causes for concern…

DAN BIGGAR: Fairplay to Wales was one of the best second-half performances I've ever seen in the Six Nations; When you're trailing 27-0, it's easy to capitulate, but the scoreline may have been terribly bad. I'm visiting the team at the Vale on Tuesday and at half-time I was thinking about cancelling my trip! If life hadn't turned around, it would have been a horrible place to be, but those last 35 minutes would completely change the mood. The discussion will be about how Wales will pick up their second-half results and take it to Twickenham at a team meeting tomorrow.

MIKE BROWN: I've started the last few Six Nations with excitement for the England squad's potential and hopes that they will be able to express themselves in the tournament, but then they were disappointed. Although Steve Borthwick's opening round victory over Italy in Rome was uneventful, particularly in defense in the first half, I believe he'll return home contented. I'm really looking forward to seeing the team make further strides against Wales on Saturday before facing Scotland, Ireland, and France.

CHRIS FOY IN GIRONA: Kevin Sinfield has spoken out for the first time about his impending withdrawal from the England set-up at the end of this season, with the cross-code icon more likely to work in union rather than returning to league. It was announced that Felix Jones, the man who was recently awarded a CBE for his continuing, herculean fund-raising efforts on behalf of his former colleague Rob Burrow and others affected by Motor Neuron Disease, will be replaced as defense coach in the aftermath of the World Cup. Sinfield is now a skills guru on the forthcoming Six Nations and New Zealand summer tour before moving on.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: This is the first thing I want to say is congratulations to Jamie George for being crowned England captain. I can see why they've chosen him. He's clearly a good communicator, a good whistle, and, most important, a superb player. He has also been England's most consistent performer during a challenging period, superbly controls the referee, and is the best player in his position. All major ticks on my captaincy checklist are checked. George has also been an unofficial spokesperson for the overseas playing rules and centralized labour, which is not by chance.

Andrew Strawbridge, the former All Blacks coach, has been appointed as a consultant for the forthcoming Six Nations. After the 2023 World Cup, the Kiwi left his position with New Zealand and Steve Borthwick has joined him as a skills coach. Felix Jones, the former Springboks coach, takes over the defense, in place of Kevin Sinfield, who will now work on individual skills and kickers in the wake of a reshuffled England coaching staff.

Zach Mercer was coming to terms with some ego-deflating gifts; a book on being interesting; and some hair-growth cream. 'I suppose they don't find me particularly interesting here,' the 26-year-old No 8 told Mail Sport with a wry smile. The accusation that he is follically impaired was harsh, but fair. 'I've got the 'widow's peak,' he said. 'Unfortunately, it runs in the family, so I don't think I will get away from it.' Mercer came to Gloucester with a stellar reputation after his award-winning, title-winning victories for Montpellier in France's Top 14 league, but he has had a tough career period, with a World Cup suspension and an untimely injury early in his first season with his new team. The latter issue was not addressed in a hurry as the former Bath back-rower made his comeback against Clermont Auvergne last week after initial, doomsday rumors that he would be out for months.

MEETS DAN BIGGAR: When I landlocked Siya Kolisi's family at his house in Paris, I am immediately struck by how welcoming he is. It's cold and rainy outside, but he greets me with a warm hug at the front door, and Rachel, his wife, makes homemade soup and biltong. Since stepping into the All Blacks' changing room to ask Dan Carter for his jersey in 2010, I haven't felt anxious, but they immediately put me at ease. Siya was competing in his second World Cup title around South Africa, FaceTiming Roger Federer on an open-top bus two weeks ago. The number of people out to celebrate was staggering - it's what you dream of - and learning about Siya's life makes me wonder why it's so important.

As Steve Borthwick thinks about putting together plans for the next four-year World Cup cycle, England's impending coaching change is contributing to confusion and potential upheaval. With the dust now settled on the 2023 campaign in France, which culminated in an honorable third-place finish, head coach Borthwick is planning the team's future in the face of rumors of tension behind the scenes. With Irishman Felix Jones set to be integrated into the Red Rose set-up in January, it is likely that not one but two current assistants will be moving forward. Leicester has heard from reliable sources that they are still worried that Dan McKellar, the current head coach, will be sent back to Australia to take over the Wallabies, replacing Eddie Jones, who resigned earlier this month. That will open a Tigers' vacancy, and Richard Wigglesworth is expected to return to Welford Road, having served as England's attack coach at the recent World Cup and preceding summer camp.

Antoine Dupont, the French rugby darling, will miss the Six Nations so he can prepare to play sevens at the Paris Olympics. Dupont, who played his first match since the World Cup for Toulouse over the weekend, has long expressed his desire to play sevens at Paris 2024. Other participants of France's 15-man team may assist Arthur Vincent, Sekou Macalou, or one of Damian Penaud or Louis Biarrirey. Dupont, 27, is slated to compete in the World Sevens Series, which will clashes with the Six Nations.

Rassie Erasmus (right) is back as South Africa's head coach, according to local media on Sunday, returning to the position he held when the team lifted the World Cup in 2019. Jacques Nienaber (left) led the Springboks to their second straight World Cup victory last month, but they had already announced in April that they would be playing for Leinster in France. Felix Jones, the assistant coach, will be joining Steve Borthwick's England.

MIKE BROWN: England can face the World Cup in 2027 as a serious threat to the World Cup. The 99%. The talent is there. Every week, I see it in the Premiership. To step up, they only need to have the right systems and playing style in place. I've loved the back-to-wall fight that the team has fought, but I think it's time for a refresher. Steve Borthwick's quick-fix pragmatism for this World Cup served them well, but now the coaches have a four-year cycle to really build. It's time to change style, select a captain who will be a strong starter, and add a few new players.